Cuomo Doesn’t Rule Out Republican Endorsements

Gov. Andrew Cuomo didn’t rule out backing Republicans in elections this afternoon, including the state Senate.

“I could see myself endorsing any individual regardless of party label depending on the positions, depending on the individual. I’ve worked with Republicans, I’ve worked with Democrats, I’ve worked with independents,” Cuomo said when asked if he would support individual GOP candidates. “I’ve worked against Democrats, against Republicans, against independents. So no, I think I’m like most New Yorkers. I’m a Democrat, I support Democrats, but you make a decision on the person, ultimately.”

Cuomo added that he would back candidates on a “case by case” basis this fall.

“By definition, it’s a case by case, individual by individual determination. Depending on the person and depending how I can help, it will be a paper press release, it will be some fundraising. I haven’t really figured that out to tell you the truth,” he said.

In a way, the talk is similar to Cuomo’s 2010 handling of not endorsing Democratic Comptroller Tom DiNapoli for a full term. While there was speculation Cuomo would back Republican candidate Harry Wilson, Cuomo ultimately refrained from throwing his backing to either man.

Cuomo has repeatedly not said whether he wants Democrats to regain control of the state Senate, which currently stands at 33 to 29 in favor of the Republicans, not counting the four-member Independent Democratic Conference.

By contrast, Cuomo has held a fundraiser for the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee, a conference that has no worries about losing their huge majority in the chamber.

“I want to see the best people in the state Senate that we can attract,” Cuomo said when asked if he supported a Democratic takeover.

But in the state Senate, where Democrats are hobbled by a redistricting plan drawn by Senate Republican lawmakers (and signed off on by Cuomo) and the poor image of dysfunction and corruption from their time in control, the minority conference still holds out hope that the presidential election year will help put them over the top.

But he has not done a similar kindness for the Senate Democrats.

“I haven’t had that conversation with the Senate Democrats. I will be making a decision for individuals on an individual basis,” Cuomo said.

Democrats have argued that the sheer demographics of voter enrollment will help their cause in regaining control.

And the conference also points to Cuomo at the same news conference today expressing strong support for their policy proposals, including an overhaul of campaign-finance laws and microstamping of bullets.

“We look forward to working with Governor Cuomo to push a number of issues that are important to him but have been blocked by the Senate Republicans including raising the minimum wage, real campaign finance reform and passing common sense gun control measures like microstamping,” said Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy.

Still, Republicans have gone out of their way to cozy up to Cuomo and his broad public support. They’ve also worked well with the governor over the last 18 months on a host of measures.

Need less to say, an endorsement from the Democratic governor with a 70 percent approval could boost a candidate in either party in a general election.

Which is why more and more registered Democrats in NYS are wondering if their party even stands for anything anymore. Like many, I don’t give a tinker’s damn about endorsements. I don’t let people do my thinking for me. I decide who to vote for rather than letting some full-of-himself politician (not just Cuomo) presume to tell me how to vote. Somewhere, in some parallel universe, there’s a strong independent movement where people are given a ral choice and societies are governed better.

IronMike

That’s a REAL choice. Not just Coke and Pepsi.

urban conservative

I think there are some things we can take into account here.
1. Cuomo will ONLY back Republican incumbents with either token opposition or no real challenger at all.
2. No Republican CHALLENGER to a Democratic Senator incumbent will be backed.
3. Cuomo will probably throw a few token endorsements to Assembly Republicans who have worked with him and have no shot in losing.

Mad Hatter

How about Brooklyn’s Marty Golden, who’s had a history of deals with Democrats, has cut a new district that excluded certain ethnic Republicans (making it a little less Republican than it could have been) and this year may be up against a real Demcratic challenger in Andrew Gounardes?